An open-branched, 2-3 ft. perennial with delicate, blue-green, lobed foliage and pendent, yellow and red, spurred flowers. Handsome red and yellow flowers hang at ends of branches above this bushy plant with several stems and many divided leaves. The flowers of this species are slightly smaller than those of A. eximia.

The genus name Aquilegia comes from the Latin aquila which means eagle and refers to the spurred petals that many believe resemble an eagles talons. The species name formosa, Latin for beautiful, aptly describes this large plant, especially when it has hundreds of lovely flowers nodding over it. There are other species with mostly red flowers, which also attract hummingbirds as pollinators. The nectar was eaten as a candy by the Gitxsan and Wetsuweten peoples.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Columbine attracts hummingbirds. Use Food: The nectar was eaten as a candy by the Gitxsan and Wetsuweten peoples. The young leaves of variety truncata were gathered before flowering, boiled, and eaten as greens by indigenous peoples of California. Conspicuous Flowers: yesAttracts: Hummingbirds

Propagation

Description: Easily propagated by seed. Seedlings around parent plant appear in summer and can be moved the following spring. Seed Collection: Seeds may ripen and be shed before the pod has turned brown. If seeds in greenish follicles are black, they are ready to collect. Cut the fruiting stalk and keep in a dry bag for a few days until the seeds shake free. Seed Treatment: Seeds require no pretreatment. Commercially Avail: yes